North draws inspiration from Hussey to save his Test career
January 10th, 2010 - 1:33 pm ICT by ANIMelbourne, Jan 10 (ANI): Out of form Australian No.6 batsman Marcus North has said that he will draw inspiration from team-mate Michael Hussey in order to save his international career.
Amid calls for his sacking, North vowed not to let down skipper Ricky Ponting if he was retained for the third Test against Pakistan in Hobart from Thursday.
North was named in the 13-man squad but faces a nervous 72-hour wait as national selectors sweat on the fitness of opener Simon Katich, who missed the second Test with an elbow injury.
The Sunday Mail reports that North has Ponting’s backing to play his 13th Test, and the West Australian is determined to silence critics with his first Test ton of the summer after scoring 186 runs from his past five Tests at a mediocre average of 23.25.
A motivating force is Hussey, who issued North a career-saving template last week with 134 not out to help sink Pakistan in Sydney, as his Test future was under the microscope.
Asked if he was playing for his Test career in Hobart, North said: “I don’t think so. To be honest, since the day I got called up, I’ve never taken my spot for granted or looked too far ahead. I’m very confident I will get runs in this Test match but if I don’t, well . . . I guess the future is in my hands.”
“I know there’s been a couple of questions about my position in the past few weeks, but ‘Huss’ has had to deal with the criticism for 10 months. I’m not making excuses.
“I feel I’m hitting the ball well, my preparation has been excellent and rather than being worried going down to Hobart, I’m happy I’ve got the backing of the selectors and I’m excited about this Test,” he said.
“I’ve got a feeling that my next Test hundred is just around the corner, and I am taking inspiration from Huss,” North added. (ANI)
- Ponting, Hussey to play against India on Boxing Day, says Arthur - Dec 13, 2011
- Reputations would count for nothing when choosing Ashes squad: Chappell - Nov 09, 2010
- Ferguson predicts Hussey will hit top Ashes form - Nov 10, 2010
- Ponting is elephant in the room, says Cairns - Nov 30, 2011
- Bailey replaces Clarke for Sunday's ODI against India (Lead) - Feb 17, 2012
- Pace bowler Harris gives selectors six screeching reasons to pick him for Adelaide - Dec 01, 2010
- Ponting faces Aussie media ire - Mar 25, 2011
- Relationship with Ponting won't be strained: Clarke - Feb 24, 2012
- Ponting or Hussey must make way: Taylor - Dec 22, 2011
- "I'm not going to be the new Ricky Ponting", says new Australian captain Clarke - Mar 30, 2011
- Ponting will look to score at home - Dec 08, 2011
- Honoured to be part of Clarke's great innings: Hussey - Jan 05, 2012
- Ponting quashes talk about his retirement, vows to play after WC - Mar 23, 2011
- Ponting retires from ODIs, vows to carry on in Tests (Lead) - Feb 21, 2012
- Jaded Ponting cannot be rested, says Arthur - Feb 18, 2012
Tags: 10 months, batsman, elbow injury, first test, hobart, international career, mail reports, man squad, michael hussey, microscope, national selectors, ponting, second test, simon katich, skipper, sunday mail, team mate, test career, test match, third test
